Tuesday, August 21, 2007 Editorials: Call for probe on Basilan clash
THE problem with Oakwood mutiny leader Antonio Trillanes IV becoming a senator is that he has acquired political power despite his still being under detention.
That can be good or bad, depending on how he uses that political power.
He is calling for a Senate probe into the encounter between government troops and Muslim rebels in Basilan that left 14 Marines dead, 10 of whom were beheaded.
That call became controversial in that Trillanes alleged that unnamed Armed forces officials fed the concerned Marines team to the rebels.
Allegation
Trillanes actually does not have any love lost for the Armed Forces hierarchy, the reason why he and some 70 officers launched that failed mutiny in Makati in 2003.
And the mutineers’ beef may have basis, considering their being insiders (although the political goal of the mutiny blunted their accusations against the military’s top brass).
But the claim that the Marines were fed by their superiors to the rebels in Basilan is not only a serious allegation but also defies logic, thus Trillanes has to substantiate it.
Without proof, it is nothing but a wild claim and can be considered part of the effort to sow intrigues within the military organization and win recruits for the mutineers.
Worse, it tended to denigrate not only the bravery of government troops that fought the Muslim separatists in that encounter but also the heroism of those who died.
Past probes
Admittedly, Trillanes may have a case but sadly he only talked about supposed information from “sources” who will most likely come out in the open only if they are given the shield of parliamentary immunity that only Senate inquiries provide.
But past Senate probes showed that “witnesses” can be faked and immunity abused precisely because it shields accusers from cases arising from reckless claims.
Vigilance
It is good then that some senators were lukewarm to Trillanes’ call and even told him to first substantiate his claim before prodding the Senate to launch a formal probe.
Even then, this episode shows one of the problems of having people like Trillanes for a senator: the Senate could be used as a platform to advance questionable agenda.
